Polled Aberdeen and Angus Cattle. 
375 
approach the most nearly to the Shorthorn type are, if anything, 
the largest in appearance and attain the greatest live weight ; 
but it is equally well known that those which most closely 
resemble the Polled breed not only bring the highest price 
when fat, and yield a larger percentage of dead meat to live 
weight, but also command the greatest number of customers and 
the readiest sale. An influential cattle-salesman in England 
stated to me the o^her day that for a black Polled ox or heifer, 
or even a cow, he could find three buyers for one who would bid 
for an animal of any of the other breeds ; and that the longer 
he stood " week after week behind cattle in the markets " his 
estimate of black Polled cattle as beef-producers became greater 
and greater. At local fairs and sales of farm stock throughout 
the north-east of Scotland, lean black Polled one- and two-year 
old cattle generally bring from IZ. to 30s. per head more than 
a corresponding class of roan horned crosses. 
Among many who are not directly acquainted with the im- 
proved Aberdeen and Angus cattle, an idea prevails that the breed 
is slow in coming to maturity — that it grows slowly and fattens 
slowly. Formerly that may have been the case ; indeed, there 
is no doubt that it was. JNow, however, the breed has been so 
greatly improved in that respect that it matures almost as early 
as any of the other leading breeds. When well fed from their 
birth good specimens of the breed become ripe at the age of from 
twenty-four to twenty-eight months; and it is also worthy of 
note that animals of the breed that are being fattened will retain 
the levelness and quality of their flesh longer than those of most 
other breeds. At the Smithfield Club Show in London in 1879, 
the highest increase in weight per day from birth was shown by a 
two-year-and-nine-months-old steer of the Polled Aberdeen and 
Angus breed, shown by Sir William Gordon Gordon Gumming, 
Bart., of Altyre, and bred by Mr. Grant, Ad vie. At the 
Smithfield Club Show in London in 1880, the average daily 
increase in weight of the six steers of the Polled Aberdeen and 
Angus breed under three years old was l'781b., and that of the 
corresponding class of Shorthorn steers, 1'79. 
Since the rage for " young beef" became so strong as it now 
is, a great many Polled cattle have been fed-off when from 
twenty-four to thirty months old, and at that age good animals 
bring from 25Z. to 35Z., a few even exceeding the latter sum. 
In the London Christmas market, choice three-year-old black 
Polled bullocks bring from 40Z. to 48?., and even in some cases 
over 80Z. 
The breed cannot now be said to be distinguished for its 
milking properties. There is reliable evidence to the effect 
that formerly it was held in high estimation for its value for 
VOL. XVII. — S. S. 2d 
